Patents by Inventor Timothy J. Mitchell

Timothy J. Mitchell has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11951599
    Abstract: A pipe coupon extraction tool includes a rod defining a first end, a second end, and a central axis; and a spring bar defining a first end and a second end, the spring bar rotatably secured to the rod, a surface of the spring bar configured to be angled with respect to the central axis when the pipe coupon extraction tool is engaged with a pipe coupon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Mueller International, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy J. Mitchell, David Latimore Hughes, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20240077156
    Abstract: A bar linkage for a pipe coupling can include a first bar configured to span two end rings of the pipe coupling; a second bar configured to span the two end rings of the pipe coupling; and a single tensioner extending through each of the first bar and the second bar and joining the first bar to the second bar along an axis of the bar linkage in an assembled condition of the bar linkage, the tensioner configured to draw the first bar towards the second bar, the first bar and the second bar able to be angled with respect to each other and with respect to the axis of the pipe coupling in a tightened condition of the pipe coupling when viewing the bar linkage from the top when the pipe coupling couples pipes of unequal diameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2023
    Publication date: March 7, 2024
    Inventors: Timothy J. Mitchell, Steve Kent Fearnow, Jason White Bradley
  • Patent number: 11913584
    Abstract: A cut warning system can include a valve sleeve defining a cavity, the valve sleeve defining a bottom sealing surface within the cavity; a pipeline extending through the cavity; a drilling machine including a shell cutter, the shell cutter defining a bottom edge, the drilling machine configured to axially advance the shell cutter from a pre-engagement position towards the bottom sealing surface, the pipeline positioned between the shell cutter and the bottom sealing surface in the pre-engagement position; and a signaling element positioned within the cavity, the signaling element configured to produce a signal when the shell cutter reaches a post-engagement position, the bottom edge being axially positioned between the pipeline and the bottom sealing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Mueller International, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy J. Mitchell, Samantha Ellen Covington, David Latimore Hughes, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20230399826
    Abstract: A nozzle cap for a hydrant can include an inner cap securably engageable with a nozzle of the hydrant, the nozzle configured to connect a fire hose to the hydrant; a communications hub positioned adjacent to the inner cap; and a plug plugging an opening defined in the inner cap and securably engaged with the inner cap, the plug including a material that allows transmission of a wireless signal through the material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2023
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Inventors: Haedoo Choi, Timothy J. Mitchell, Rachel Rifenberg, Christopher Joseph Duckett, Justin Blaine Childress, Emil Simion, Diego Aguilera
  • Publication number: 20230332721
    Abstract: A gasket bridge assembly includes a gasket bridge defining a first circumferential bridge end, a second circumferential bridge end opposite the first circumferential bridge end, and an arcuate body arcing between the first and second circumferential bridge ends, wherein the gasket bridge comprises: a first anti-slip feature at the first circumferential bridge end; a second anti-slip feature at the second circumferential bridge end; and a third anti-slip feature disposed between the first and second circumferential bridge ends; and a gasket assembly disposed radially inward of the gasket bridge, wherein each of the first, second, and third anti-slip features extend radially inward and dig into an outer sealing surface of the gasket assembly to prevent movement of the gasket assembly relative to the gasket bridge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Timothy J. Mitchell, Curtis Michael McCullough
  • Patent number: 11767940
    Abstract: A seal for a pipe coupling can include an outer gasket defining a radially inner surface defining a plurality of grooves; and an inner gasket separably joined to the outer gasket and defining a radially outer surface, the radially outer surface defining a plurality of ridges extending radially outward and including: a first ridge, each of first and second side surfaces of the first ridge angled in cross-section with respect to a radial direction of the inner gasket towards a first axial end of the inner gasket when in an uncompressed state; and a second ridge, each of first and second side surfaces of the second ridge angled in cross-section with respect to the radial direction towards a second axial end of the inner gasket when in the uncompressed state; wherein the radially outer surfaces of the inner and outer gaskets contact each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Mueller International, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy J. Mitchell, Steve Kent Fearnow, Jason White Bradley
  • Patent number: 11719367
    Abstract: An end ring assembly includes a split ring defining an outer ring surface, an inner ring surface, a first ring end and a second ring end, the first ring end and second ring end defining a gap therebetween; a gasket bridge defining an outer bridge surface, an inner bridge surface, the gasket bridge further defining a first bridge end, a second bridge end, and a middle portion therebetween, the middle portion of the gasket bridge extending between the first ring end and the second ring end, the first bridge end and second bridge end engaging the inner ring surface, a first ramp extending from the first bridge end; and a primary gasket defining a primary outer sealing surface and a primary inner sealing surface, the primary outer sealing surface engaging the inner ring surface and the inner bridge surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Mueller International, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy J. Mitchell, Curtis Michael McCullough
  • Patent number: 11719366
    Abstract: A pipe coupling includes a coupling body defining a first body end; and an end ring assembly comprising: a split ring a gap defined between a first ring end of the split ring and a second ring end of the split ring; a gasket bridge extending across the gap between the first ring end and the second ring end; and a gasket assembly disposed radially inward of the split ring and the gasket bridge, the gasket assembly compressed between the split ring and the first body end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Mueller International, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy J. Mitchell, Curtis Michael McCullough
  • Publication number: 20230108209
    Abstract: In a service mesh, back-pressure is applied and relieved as needed by a control mechanism which is applied between pairs of services to control the rate at which service requests are made from one of service to the other via monitoring hardware and/or software metrics. A proxy of one service is monitored to observe the rate at which it receives service requests from the other service. If it is observed that the monitored metrics have breached allowable limits, back-pressure is applied to reduce the rate at which the other proxy transmits these service requests. Through continued monitoring of the proxy, the back-pressure can be later relieved when appropriate by increasing the permitted request rate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Inventors: Adam John Pilkington, GORDON DOUGLAS HUTCHISON, Timothy J. MITCHELL, Graham C. Charters
  • Publication number: 20230108266
    Abstract: A cut warning system can include a valve sleeve defining a cavity, the valve sleeve defining a bottom sealing surface within the cavity; a pipeline extending through the cavity; a drilling machine including a shell cutter, the shell cutter defining a bottom edge, the drilling machine configured to axially advance the shell cutter from a pre-engagement position towards the bottom sealing surface, the pipeline positioned between the shell cutter and the bottom sealing surface in the pre-engagement position; and a signaling element positioned within the cavity, the signaling element configured to produce a signal when the shell cutter reaches a post-engagement position, the bottom edge being axially positioned between the pipeline and the bottom sealing surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Inventors: Timothy J. Mitchell, Samantha Ellen Covington, David Latimore Hughes, JR.
  • Patent number: 11621919
    Abstract: A computer system hosting (micro)services that uses a service mesh to govern communication between the services. The services include consumer services and an event stream service, the latter directing an event stream from a producer service to the individual consumer services. The control plane of the service mesh has the role of creating and removing service instances. Based on a specified event capacity that is to be provided by the consumer services collectively, the control plane manages service provisioning by estimating the current event capacity of the system. This is done by measuring the event capacities of each consumer service instance and summing them, from which any shortfall or excess of the current event capacity in relation to the specified event capacity can be determined. Consumer service instances are then added in case of a shortfall or removed in case of an excess as needed to avoid over or under-provisioning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gordon Douglas Hutchison, Adam John Pilkington, Graham C. Charters, Timothy J. Mitchell
  • Publication number: 20230069598
    Abstract: A computer system hosting (micro)services that uses a service mesh to govern communication between the services. The services include consumer services and an event stream service, the latter directing an event stream from a producer service to the individual consumer services. The control plane of the service mesh has the role of creating and removing service instances. Based on a specified event capacity that is to be provided by the consumer services collectively, the control plane manages service provisioning by estimating the current event capacity of the system. This is done by measuring the event capacities of each consumer service instance and summing them, from which any shortfall or excess of the current event capacity in relation to the specified event capacity can be determined. Consumer service instances are then added in case of a shortfall or removed in case of an excess as needed to avoid over or under-provisioning.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2021
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Gordon Douglas Hutchison, Adam John Pilkington, Graham C. Charters, Timothy J. Mitchell
  • Publication number: 20230016444
    Abstract: A pipe coupon extraction tool includes a rod defining a first end, a second end, and a central axis; and a spring bar defining a first end and a second end, the spring bar rotatably secured to the rod, a surface of the spring bar configured to be angled with respect to the central axis when the pipe coupon extraction tool is engaged with a pipe coupon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Timothy J. Mitchell, David Latimore Hughes, JR.
  • Patent number: 11549628
    Abstract: A cut warning system can include a valve sleeve defining a cavity, the valve sleeve defining a bottom sealing surface within the cavity; a pipeline extending through the cavity; a drilling machine including a shell cutter, the shell cutter defining a bottom edge, the drilling machine configured to axially advance the shell cutter from a pre-engagement position towards the bottom sealing surface, the pipeline positioned between the shell cutter and the bottom sealing surface in the pre-engagement position; and a signaling element positioned within the cavity, the signaling element configured to produce a signal when the shell cutter reaches a post-engagement position, the bottom edge being axially positioned between the pipeline and the bottom sealing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Mueller International, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy J. Mitchell, Samantha Ellen Covington, David Latimore Hughes, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11478910
    Abstract: A pipe coupon extraction tool includes: a rod defining a first end, a second end, and a central axis; and a spring bar defining a first end and a second end, the spring bar rotatably secured to the rod, a surface of the spring bar configured to be angled with respect to the central axis when the pipe coupon extraction tool is engaged with a pipe coupon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Mueller International, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy J. Mitchell, David Latimore Hughes, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20220236132
    Abstract: The outer housing for a pressure monitoring system includes a sidewall shell comprising an annular inner sidewall projection extending from a top end thereof; a cap mounted to the sidewall shell, the cap defining an inner cap surface, an outer cap surface, a cap bottom end, and an annular cap recess extending into the cap bottom end between the outer cap surface and the inner cap surface, wherein the annular inner sidewall projection is configured to engage the annular cap recess; and an antenna assembly directly mounted to the inner cap surface, the antenna assembly comprising an antenna.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2022
    Publication date: July 28, 2022
    Inventors: Carlos Stephen Moreno, Timothy J. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 11396965
    Abstract: A gland assembly for a piping element includes a gland comprising a joint restraint assembly comprising a restraint base, the restraint base defining a restraint pocket, the joint restraint assembly further comprising a gripper disposed within the restraint pocket, wherein the gripper is configured to rotate within the restraint pocket about and between a disengaged position in which the gripper is disengaged from the piping element and an engagement position in which the gripper is engaged with the piping element. The gland assembly also includes a cover removably attached to the restraint base, the cover comprising a bottom wall comprising a stop leg; a sidewall; a tab extending from the sidewall, the tab preventing the cover from being pushed onto the restraint base in a fully depressed configuration and preventing the stop leg from engaging the gripper into the disengaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: Mueller International, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy J. Mitchell, Anton A. Nasledov
  • Publication number: 20220136630
    Abstract: A pipe coupling includes a coupling body defining a first body end; and an end ring assembly comprising: a split ring a gap defined between a first ring end of the split ring and a second ring end of the split ring; a gasket bridge extending across the gap between the first ring end and the second ring end; and a gasket assembly disposed radially inward of the split ring and the gasket bridge, the gasket assembly compressed between the split ring and the first body end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: Timothy J. Mitchell, Curtis Michael McCullough
  • Publication number: 20220136631
    Abstract: An end ring assembly includes a split ring defining an outer ring surface, an inner ring surface, a first ring end and a second ring end, the first ring end and second ring end defining a gap therebetween; a gasket bridge defining an outer bridge surface, an inner bridge surface, the gasket bridge further defining a first bridge end, a second bridge end, and a middle portion therebetween, the middle portion of the gasket bridge extending between the first ring end and the second ring end, the first bridge end and second bridge end engaging the inner ring surface, a first ramp extending from the first bridge end; and a primary gasket defining a primary outer sealing surface and a primary inner sealing surface, the primary outer sealing surface engaging the inner ring surface and the inner bridge surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: Timothy J. Mitchell, Curtis Michael McCullough
  • Patent number: 11313748
    Abstract: Example aspects of an outer housing for a pressure monitoring system and a pressure monitoring system for a wet barrel hydrant are disclosed. The outer housing for a pressure monitoring system can comprise a sidewall shell defining an axis extending centrally therethrough and comprising an annular inner sidewall projection extending from a top end thereof; and a cap mounted to the sidewall shell, the cap defining an annular cap recess, wherein the annular inner sidewall projection is configured to engage the annular cap recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: Mueller International, LLC
    Inventors: Carlos Stephen Moreno, Timothy J. Mitchell